Window shade roller construction



United States Patent "ice 2,891,614 WINDOW SHADE ROLLER CONSTRUCTIONEdward Grupp, Glendale, Calif. Application October 25, 1956, Serial N0.618,379 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-301) This invention relates to a self-lockingreadily releasable lock mechanism for selectively positioning a springloaded rotatable member and more particularly to an automaticallyreleasing and self-locking mechanism for a window shade roller.

Prior proposed lock means for selectively positioning a window shadehave included gravity actuated pawls pivoted about axes parallel to theshade roller axis and engageable with a notched disc or ratchet member,the pawls and notched disc usually being exposed at one end of theroller and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the roller. Theconstruction of such prior proposed shade roller lock means requiredprecision toolingincluding punch press dies and maintenance of closemanufacturing tolerances. The assembly of such prior proposed lock meansincluded assemblyiof many small parts in limited space, and presentproduction procedure includes long assembly lines involving considerablelabor cost. Such prior proposed lock means were exposed at the end ofthe shade roller, and as a result collected dust and lint, and after aperiod of time would not consistently automatically release or lock theroller. Usually such prior lock means required some lubrication, andsuch lubrication only tended to increase the collection of dust andlint.

This invention contemplates a novel design of a selflockingautomatically releasable lock mechanism for a window shade roller whichis conveniently assembled, requires no close manufacturing tolerancesand which is positive in operation. The lock mechanism is made ofrelatively few parts as compared to prior proposed lock devices forshade rollers and in a preferred embodiment, the lock mechanism isprotected against the accumulation of dust and dirt therein.

One of the principal features of the lock mechanism of this invention isthe provision of a free floating lock pin which lies longitudinally ofthe axis of the shade roller. In one embodiment, the 'lock pin may befree, loose, and not positively connected to the rotatable part withwhich it is associated, and in another embodiment the lock pin may bepivotally connected to such associated rotatable part with free pivotalmovement about such connection for radial movement of the pin.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to design andprovide a lock mechanism for a rotatable member such as a window shaderoller which operates in a novel positive trouble-free manner.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a lock mechanismfor a spring-loaded rotatable member which does not require closemanufacturing tolerances and in which use and wear of the lock mechanismdo not cause malfunctioning thereof.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide such a lockmechanism which requires no lubricantsand can be inexpensivelymanufactured from various types of material A more specific object ofthis invention is to disclose and provide a self-locking, automaticallyreleasable lock mechanism for a window shade roller wherein alongitudinally disposed free floating lock pin cooperates with a lockdisc carried by a stationary member of the lock mechanism; The lockmechanism is so designed that a plurality of such lock pins may beprovided so as to afford selective positioningof the roller member.

;Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a lock mechanism for awindow shade roller provided with an axial chamber at one end and with acoil spring positioned in said chamber in customary well known manner.The invention contemplates a closure fitting or member for said chamberto engage and hold one end of said spring, said closure fitting beingprovided with a through bore and with one or more radially arranged andlongitudinally extending tapered slots opening into said through bore.An elongated stationary axle means is receivable in said through bore,one end of said axle means being adapted to engage the inner oppositeend of the spring to hold said end of the spring against rotation. Theopposite outer end of the axle means may be provided with a polygonalsection end portion adapted to, seat in a roller supporting bracket forholding the axle means against rotation in well known manner.Self-locking and automatically releasable lock means selectivelyinterconnect the stationary axle means and the closure member and mayinclude a notched lock element on the axle means and a free floatinglongitudinally extending pin disposed in the radial slot, said pinhaving an end portion extending over the edge of the lock element andbeing adapted to engage said notch by gravity. A closure cap may coverthe lock element and lock pin at the end of the roller.

These and many other objects and advantages of this invention will bereadily apparent from the following description of the drawings in whichtwo exemplary embodiments of this invention are shown. 3

. In the drawings:

f Fig. l is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view bisecting one endof a window shade roller member and showing a preferred embodiment ofthis invention.

, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the same planeas Fig. l, but showing the locking mechanism in release positionpermitting rotation of the roller.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the locking mechanismshown in Fig. 1, illustrating assembly thereof.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of awindow shade roller showing a diflerent embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lockingmechanism shown in Fig. 6, the locking mechanism being in releaseposition.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline IXIX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism shownin Fig. 6.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, one end of a window shade roller 15 is shown with the lockingmechanism of this invention illustrated in locked position to preventrotation of the roller 15 when the shade is in selected position. It isunderstood that while this invention is exemplarily shown as employed ona window shade roller, it may be used on any spring loaded, rotatablemember to releasably hold such a rotatable member against rotation inone direction. The roller 15 may have attached thereto a. window.

shade (not shown) in well known manner, such window shade roller beingmounted on usual supporting brackets (not shown) fixed to a windowframe.

The roller may be made of any suitable material, usually Wood. At theend illustrated, the roller 15 may be provided with an elongated axialbore providing a spring chamber 16 within which may be positioned anelongated coil spring 17. The chamber 16 is provided with an open end18.

A closure member 20 may be frictionally fitted in said opening 18 andmay comprise a cylindrical elongated body portion 21 and an end flange22 which provides an annular shoulder 23 for abutment with the end faceof roller 15. Preferably, the closure member 20 may be made ofantifriction material such as hard Woods or selflubricating plasticmaterial so that it may serve as a bearing means for a stationary axlemeans 25'. The closure member 20 is provided with an axial through bore26 of uniform diameter and is also provided with one or morelongitudinally extending radially disposed internal slots 27. In thisexample, three of such slots 27 are shown equally angularly spaced aboutthe axis of the closure member 20. Each slot 27 has a longitudinalopening 28 to the through bore 26 and an outer radial end opening 29 inthe outer face of the closure member. slot 27 is defined by a radiallyinwardly tapering wall 30 extending from the end opening 29 to aninternal transverse end wall 31 which provides an internal radialshoulder.

The closure member 20 may also be provided with a longitudinallyextending groove 33 provided in the external cylindrical surface of bodyportion 21, said groove joining a radial groove 34 provided in thesurface of the shoulder 23 formed by flange 22. Grooves 33 and 34receive the outer end 35 of spring 17, said end 35 being bent at 36 sothat said outer end of the spring is firmly seated and interlocked withthe closure member 20 whereby rotation of the roller 15 will tensionspring 17 as further later described.

Stationary axle means 25 is mounted in the end of roller 15 and in thisexample may comprise a single elongated shaft or axle 39 having adiameter which will pass through bore 26 in closure member 20 and permitrotation of member 20 thereon. The shaft 39 is supported at its outerend portion by closure member 20 and at its inner end 40 in a bearingbushing 41 of any suitable material seated in the inner end of chamber16 and provided with an axial recess 42 to receive end 40. End 40 may beprovided with a longitudinally extending diametric slot 43 having anopen end so as to receive and engage an inner bent end 44 of coil spring17. Thus, the inner end of spring may be held against rotation.

The outer end of shaft 39 is provided with a polygonal section outer end46 which is adapted to seat in a well known shade roller-supportingbracket (not shown) provided with a vertically disposed slot ofcorresponding size so as to hold the stationary axle means 25 againstrotation. It should be noted that when mounted in such supportingbrackets, the outer end 46 is always vertically disposed.

Self-locking, automatically releasable lock means are provided at theend of roller 15 and may comprise a lock element 4-8 carried by shaft 39adjacent to outer end 46. Lock element 48 in this example is positionedin an axial circular recess 52 in the outer end face of closure 5 member20 and may be formed in any suitable manner. In this example, lockelement 48 is shown as being integral with shaft 39 and formed byupsetting the metal thereon. It may also be formed as a separate annularelement or disc slipped over shaft 39 and secured thereto in well knownmanner. Lock element 48 includes a pair of diametrically opposed lockingnotches 49, each notch as being configured to provide, in thecircumferenti'al edge'ofelement 48, a tapered relatively long edgesurface 5 and a rather sharply curved retaining edge 51 Each forpositively holding a cooperable lock pin 53 as later described.

A free floating elongated lock pin 53 cooperates with said lock element48 to hold the roller against rotation in one direction. In thisexample, lock pin 53 may comprise a plain straight pin of uniformdiameter and of any suitable stock material. Lock pin 53 is disposed inslot 27 with its inner end positioned against inner wall 31 of the slotand resting upon shaft 39. Pin 53 has a length sutficient to overlie thecircumferential edge of lock element 48 and the outer end of pin 53normally is cooperably received in top locking notch 49, said pinfalling into such engagement by gravity. As shown in Fig. 3 duringrotation of roller 15, and associated closure memher 29 the outer endsof pins 53 confined in their respective slots 27 are urged radiallyoutwardly by centrifugal forces imparted thereto during rotation. Suchradial outward movement of each pin 53 is limited by the tapered slotwall 30.

To retain the closure member 20 and stationary axle means 25 in assemblywith the end of roller 15, a retaining end cap 55 may be seated againstthe end face of flange 22 and may be provided with a circumferentialinwardly directed flange 56 which may be crimped as at 57 into theadjacent material of roller 15. The cap 55 includes a wall 58 whichextends over the opening 29 of each slot 27 and partially over thelocking notches 49, thereby retaining the free floating pins 53 withinsaid slot in either locked or unlocked position. Wall 58 is providedwith a port 59 which may be defined by an outwardly curled flange whichmay serve to position the cap in spaced relation to the roller bracketwhich receives the outer end 46 of the stationary axle means.

it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that assembly ofthe locking mechanism of this invention may be readily accomplished. Theend of roller 15 is provided with chamber 16 and with the inner bearingbushing 41 seated therein as by dropping and driving the bushing intoproper positionin chamber '16. Coil spring 17 may be then dropped intospring chamber 16 with the outer end 35 lying against intemal surfacesof the spring chamber and bent end 36 against the end face of theroller. Closure member 21) is then positioned at the open end 18 so thatgrooves 33 and 34 are aligned with the spring end 35, 36. Closure member20 may then be pushed inwardly interlocking the spring end in grooves 33and 34 until the flange 22 seats on the end face of roller 15. Thestationary axle means 25 may then be passed into through bore 26 andturned until the slot 43 of the inner end 4t} engages the inner end 44of spring 17 and until the locking element 48 seats in recess 52 in theclosure member 20. The free floating pins 53 may then be dropped throughopenings 29 into slots 27 and the end cap 55 placed over the end of theclosure mem ber 21 and secured to the roller as by crimping. It willthus be readily apparent that close manufacturing tolerances are notneeded to provide proper assembly of the locking means of thisinvention.

In operation, the shade roller 15 is mounted with outer end 46vertically disposed in a supporting bracket provided with a cooperableslot therefor. As the shade is drawn downwardly, the roller 15 andclosure member Ztl may rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, andthe locking pins 53 will be disengaged from looking notches 49 bymovement along notch edge so as to permit such rotation. When thedesired position of the shade is reached, one of locking pins 53 whenpositioned above and opposite to the top locking notch 49, will fallthereinto by gravity. Since drawing of the shade downward orcounterclockwise rotation of the roller tensions spring '17, the rolleris spring loaded with the outer end of locking pin 53 cooperablyinterengaged with top notch 49. When it is desired to raise the shade, aslight initial downpull on the shade releases locking pin 53 from notch49 and than as the shade is raised upwardly by clockwise rotation of thespring biased roller, the pins 53 are radially outwardly urged bycentrifugal force against the tapered walls 30 of slots 27, the outerends of said pins being spaced outwardly from the circumferential edgeof the locking element 48 so as not to engage said locking notchesduring such counter rotation. After the shade is raised to selectedheight, stopping of rotation of roller 15 will again cause one of thepins 53 to drop into the top locking notch 49 when positionedthereabove. It will be readily apparent that the plurality of lockingpins 53 and retaining slots 27 provided therefor provide for selectivepositioning of the shade.

It should be noted that each lock pin 53 in top position is inclined,and some longitudinal and lateral movement of the pin 53 is permitted inslot 27. Upon rotation of the roller member 15, contact of the inner endof pin 53 with axle means 25 tends to agitate pin 53, to eliminate anybinding and to provide free floating action thereof. This agitationtogether with centrifugal force acting upon the pin causes the pin tolay against the tapered slot wall 30 and to positively maintaindisengaged position with respect to locking element 48. g

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the abovepreferred embodiment of this invention may be slightly modified so as toprovide more complete positive sealing against dirt and dust at end cap55. In such a modification, the closure member 20 may be reversed inposition so that the tapered slot faces inwardly instead of outwardlyand locking element 48 is positioned further inwardly of the open end ofthe roller. The cap 22 then may be provided with a circular portcooperable with a cylindrical portion of the shaft 38 adjacent to thepolygonal section outer end thereof.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, a self-lockingautomatically releasable locking mechanism embodying the same principleof operation as the prior embodiment is shown. The construction of thelock means, however, is slightly difierent in the pivoted mounting ofthe lock pins and in the split arrangement of the closure member. InFig. 6, roller is provided with a spring chamber 16 having an open end18 as above.

Closure member 20' may comprise a pair of mating closure portions 65interlocked by an internal lug 66 on each portion 65 cooperably receivedwithin a corresponding internal lug-receiving recess 67, suchinterlocking of portions 65 preventing longitudinal and angulardisplacement thereof. When assembled, the closure member 20 includes acylindrical body portion 21', an end flange 22' and a through bore 26.Closure member 20, in this example, is provided with a pair of generallydiametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 69 formed byspacing apant portions of the meeting faces of the closure portions 65,each slot 69 having an opening 70 in the end face of the closure member20'. It will be noted in this example that each slot 69 extends entirelythrough the closure member and does not have an opening to through bore26'.

Within chamber 16' is coil spring 17' having an outer end 72 which isretained within a transverse port 73 provided in the inner end of one ofthe closure portions 65. The inner end 74 of spring 17' is retainedwithin a slot 75 provided in the inner end 76 of stationary axle meansgenerally indicated at The stationary axle means 25 in this embodimentincludes different construction than that in the first embodiment and itwill be noted that the inner end 76 is not provided with bearing supportat the inner end of chamber 16 as in the prior embodiment. Thestationary means 25' may include an internal shaft portion 78 providedwith an axial bore 79 at its outer end. Bore 79 receives inner end 80 ofa stub shaft member 81, said member 81 being provided with an annularcollar 82 adapted to seat against the end face of internal shaft portion78. A diametrically disposed securing pin 83 inter- 6 locks member 81.and shaft portion 78 against relative rotation. Member 81 extendsthrough bore 26' and is provided with supporting bearing engagementtherewith for rotation of the closure member about member 81. At itsouter end 183, member 81 is provided with a polygonal section as in theprior embodiment.

The locking means in this embodiment may comprise a lock element 84formed on shaft member 81 in a manner and configuration similar to thatof the prior embodi ment and provided with locking notches 85. Lock element 84 is received within a circular recess 86 provided in the end faceof closure member 20'. A lock pin 87 is longitudinally positioned ineach slot 69 and is pivotally mounted at its inner end as by bendinginner end 88 of pin 87, said end 88 being pivoted in a transverse hole89 provided in closure portion 65. The pivotal mounting of the bent end88 in hole 89 is loose so that the outer end 'of pin 87 is free to moveradially outwardly and inwardly in response to gravitational andcentrifugal forces. The outer end of each pin 87 overlies thecircurnferential edge of lock element 84 and is cooperable with lockingnotches in a manner similar to that of the prior embodiment.

An end cap 90 provided with a relatively large central opening 91 in itswall 92 may be positioned over the end flange 22' of the closure memberand circumferential flange 93 of cap 90 may be crimped into the materialof the roller 15 as in the prior modification.

Assembly of the lock means of this embodiment is somewhat different thanthat of the prior embodiment. In assembly, the closure portions 65 areprovided with the locking pins 87 pivotally mounted therein. The outerend of spring 17 is likewise inserted into hole 73 to connect the end ofthe spring to the closure member 20'. The stub shaft member 81 may thenbe positioned in bore 26', and the closure portions 65 joined together.Shaft portion 78 may then be sleeved within coil spring 17 with its bore79 receiving therein end 80 which may then be locked by pin 83. Theinner end of spring 17 may then be interengaged with slot 75. Thisentire assembly may then be inserted into spring chamber 16 until theflange 22' abuts the end face of roller 15'. Cap 90 may then bepositioned over the assembly and crimped onto the end of roller 15 tosecure the parts in assembly in the roller end.

It will be thus noted in this second embodiment that the locking pins 87cannot fall out of slots 69 and that the entire assembly is held inposition by end cap 90. In operation, the locking means of thisembodiment functions substantially the same as that described above anda description of its operation will not be repeated.

It will thus be understood by those skilled in the art that an extremelysimple assembly of a novel construction of a self-locking automaticallyreleasable locking mechanism for a window shade roller has beenprovided. It is understood that the locking mechanism may be used withother spring loaded rotatable members and that various modifications ofthe arrangement and size of the locking pins and cooperable lockingelement may be made. The virtually free floating locking pin does notdepend for its positive operation upon close manufacturing tolerances,and wear on the several parts of the locking mechanism will notinterfere with the positive operation thereof. It is important to notethat in the preferred embodiment, the number of parts and the stepsrequired to assemble the locking mechanism have been reduced to aminimum and as a result, considerable saving in labor cost and materialcost is achieved.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made in the locking mechanism describedabove which come within the spirit of this invention and all suchchanges which come within the scope of the appended claims are embracedthereby.

neonate- I claim:

1. A window shade roller construction comprising: a rotatable memberprovided with a chamber having an open end; a cylindrical closure memberreceivable within said chamber through said open end and having acylindrical flange seated on said rotatable member at said open end,said closure member being provided with a through bore and with alongitudinally elongated, radially directed slot having an opening atone end of said closure member and being closed at the other end of saidclosure member; a spring means in said chamber; means on said closuremember cooperably engaging one end of said spring means; a stationaryaxle means supported in said through bore and having an inner endinterengageable with the other end of said spring means, said stationaryaxle means including a portion adapted to be held against rotation; lockmeans to hold said rotatable member and said stationary axle meansagainst relative rotation in one direction and comprising a lock elementcarried on the stationary axle means at the opening of said slot andprovided with a circumeferential edge having a lock notch therein; andan elongated inclined, cylindrical lock rod disposed in said radial slotwith one end thereof overlying said circumferential edge of the lockelement for interengagement with said lock notch and the other endthereof being positioned against the closed end of said slot.

2. A construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said lock rod is freefloating in said slot and wherein an end cap extends over said flange onsaid closure member for engagement with said rotatable member to retainsaid construction in assembly and said lock rod in said slot.

3. A self-locking, automatically releasable locking means for use with aspring loaded rotatable means supported on stationary axle meanscomprising, in combination: a rotatable member associated with saidrotatable means and having an elongated body portion provided with anaxial bore aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotatable means,said body portion being provided with means defining a radial slot openat one end and closed at its other end, said slot being elongated in thedirection of the axis of rotation; a stationary member associated withthe stationary means extending through the axial bore and provided witha transversely disposed lock element at the open end of said radialslot; and an elongated cylindrical lock pin longitudinally disposed insaid slot with its inner end restrained against radial movement at theclosed end of the slot and having its outer end at the open end of saidslot for cooperable engagement and disengagement with the lock element.

4. A locking means as stated in claim 3 wherein said rotatable memberincludes a circumferential flange adapted to seat against said rotatablemeans and an end cap positioned over said flange for engagement withsaid r0- tatable means for holding said locking means in assembly.

5. A locking means as stated in claim 3 wherein said lock pin ispivotally mounted about a transverse axis remote from the portion of thepin engageable with said lock element.

6. A self-locking, automatically releasable locking means for use with aspring-loaded rotatable means supported on stationary axle meanscomprising, in combination: a rotatable member associated with saidrotatable means and including an elongated body portion provided with anaxial bore aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotatable means,said body portion being provided with means defining a slot open at oneend and closed at its other end, said slot being elongated in thedirection of the axis of rotation and extending in a radial direction; astationary member associated with the stationary means extending withinthe axial bore and provided with a transversely disposed lock element atthe open end of said slot; and an elongated cylindrical lock pinlongitudinally disposed in said slot with its out r end at the open endof said slot for cooperable engagement and disengagement with said lockelement and the inner end thereof being at the closed end of said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,866Burns Sept. 14, 1869 184,811 Willis Nov. 28, 1876 335,449 Hartshorn Feb.2, 1886 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,229 Germany Sept. 22, 1925 483,757 CanadaJune 3, 1952

